Rail guard



20, 1952 J. H. ASSELIN 2,597,697

RAIL GUARD Filed Feb. 9, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 \JIVIVELS H. 17655 L J. H. ASSELIN RAIL GUARD May 20, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 15 Filed Feb. 9, 1948 May 20, 1952 J, A$$EL|N 2,597,697

RAIL GUARD Filed Feb. 9, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented May 20, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 7 Claims.

This invention relates to a rail guard structure to the running rails of railway track. More particularly it relates to a rail guard assembly having special means for adjusting the rail guard with respect to the running rail so as to provide the proper space therebetween, and to maintain the guard rail in such adjusted position. It is a general object of the invention to provide such an assembly.

A further object of the invention resides in providing a guard rail assembly in which the guard rail is not bolted or otherwise anchored to the running rail, but which nevertheless properly maintains track alignment and prevents wheel flanges from striking frog points by maintaining a standard width fiangeway between the two rails. The invention thus prevents high speed trains from lurching when passing over switch turnouts.

It is of course well known that changes in temperature will cause expansion and contraction of rails. Because the guard rail is not bolted or fastened to the running rail, expansion or contraction of the latter will not affect the guard rail and the arrangement thus prevents kinking of therunning rail along the guard rail during expansion.

Another more specific object of the invention resides in the provision of a pair of specially designed'tapered end blocks at each end of the guard rail assembly, each pair being provided with means to permit relatively adjustment of the blocks making up that pair in such a manner as to control the distance between the guard rail and the running rail, and thus providing a dual adjustment.

Still further the invention provides for special base plates which cooperate with rail braces which engage the guard rail at spaced points and also with the specially designed tapered end blocks referred to so as to maintain the proper spacing between the guard rail and. the running rail at alltimes and also to prevent the guard rail from tilting or from moving vertically or longitudinally.

Moreover, it is an object of the invention to provide a guard rail assembly in which adjustment of the space between the guard rail and the running rail may be effected without having to remove the guard rail from its resting position on the base and tie plates.

Another important object of the invention resides in the provision of such a rail guard assembly which is of simple construction, and which may be installed simply and adjusted easily. The assembly does not require any special clamps nor does it require any change or weakening of the running rail which would be occasioned, for example, by the drilling of holes therethrough as is frequently the case with many known rail guard structures.

These and other objects of the invention will become more apparent from the following description and claims when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a plan view of an assembly showing a preferred embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the left end portion of the arrangement shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical section taken on the lines 3-3 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged exploded view of the end block structure, in perspective;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is the side elevation of one of the adjustable end blocks;

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the stationary wedge block looking toward the wedge surface;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view on the line 8-8 of Fig.

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the movable wedge block looking toward the wedge surface, and

Fig. 10 is a sectional view on the line Ifl-IO of Fig. 9.

The view illustrated in Fig. 1 shows the entire guard rail assembly. In this figure the reference numeral l0 indicates the railroad ties. The running rail H is secured to the ties through the medium of the usual tie plates I2 and special base plates l3. The invention contemplates the use i at least two such base plates I3, one at each end of the guard rail assembly. If the guard rail is of substantial length, it is also desirable to employ additional base plates intermediate the end base plates. One of such intermediate base plates is also illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

In accordance with the invention the base plates I3 are of a width sufficient to permit them to be disposed over at least two of the ties in and they are secured to the ties by means of spikes which may be driven through the holes 14 in the base plates and into the ties therebelow. The running rail II is disposed on the base plates l3 and the tie plates I2 and is secured to the ties Ill by means of spikes I5 which are driven through holes in the base plate and into the ties.

The base plates l3 and the tie plates (2 also support the guard rail which in the drawings is indicated by the reference numeral it.

The guard rail I6 is also fastened to the ties ill on one side by means of spikes which are driven through holes I4 in the base plates 13, and which, as shown in Fig. 2, have an off-set cut out to provide longitudinal adjustment.

The guard rail is adjustable with respect to the running rail and the means of adjustment comprise an important aspect of the invention as will perhaps already be clear. Disposed on each base plate i3 is an adjustable rail brace ii. These rail braces I! may preferably be of the type disclosed in my Patents Nos. 2,419,701; 2,426,137; and 2,426,138. They serve the purpose of preventing the guard rail from tilting inwardly and also prevent the guard rail from moving laterally away from its adjusted position. They also serve an additional purpose, as will be referred to hereinafter.

At each end of the assembly the guard rail l5 and the runningrail ll are separated by special tapered end blocks. Referring now to Fig. 2, which is an enlarged view of the left end of the assembly as shown in Fig. 1, one pair of the'end blocks is illustrated therein. This pair is comprised of a stationary end block 18 which is disposed adjacent to the running rail l l, and a movable end block 19 which is disposed adjacentto the guard rail It. The specific construction of these end blocks 18 and I9 is perhapsmore clearly shown in'Fig. 4, which is an explodedperspective View. It will be noted from that view that the end block [8 has an outer side wall 20 which is adapted to be disposed adjacent the web 21 of the running rail H as shown inFig. 3. This'wall 20 of the end block l3 has-curvedupper and lower surfaces 22 and 23' which are complementary in shape to the curved surfaces at'the base of the rail head and at the juncture of the .web of the running rail and the base of the running rail, as also will be clearly apparent from'Fig. 3.

The end block I8 has aninner side fiat wall 24 which is tapered at an angle with respect to the wall 20. This tapered wall 24 is providedwith a laterally extending tongue 25. The tongue has.

a series of vertically disposed holes 26 which pass therethrough. This tongue 25 extends from the wall 24 at one end of the end block 18. At the other end of the end block IS the tapered wall 24.

is provided with a rectangular cut-out 21 which in width is slightly greater than the thickness of the tongue 25.

The end block I8 is also provided with a The complementary end block [9 which is also;

shownv to good advantage in Fig. 4, is provided with an outer wall 32 adapted to be disposed adjacent the web 33 of the guardrail 16. "This wall 32 is curved at its upper and lower edgesso as to conform to the curved surfaces of the. guard rail lt'beneath the head thereof and at the juncture point between the web and the base of the rail. This will be evident from-"examination of Fig. 3. The end block' is also has a tapered wall 34 which is disposed at an'anglewith respect to the wall 32. The angle of taperof wall 34 is the same 'as that-of the tapered wall 24 :of the end block [8 but is tapered-in an -oppo'site direction so that the tapered walls 24 and M- are compleof the end block 18.

mentary. This wall 34 is provided at one end with a laterally extending tongue 35 having a series of holes 36 therein. This tongue is similar in dimension and shape to the tongue 25 of the end block 24. The tongue 35 is also dimensioned so that when the two end blocks !8 and 19 are disposed in adjacent position with the tapered Walls 24 and 34, respectively, in engagement with each other, the tongue 35 of the end block I9 will be disposed within the cut-out or recess 27 Similarly, the end block l9 at its other end has a cut-out or recess 3'! which is adapted to receive the tongue 25 of the end block I8 when the two end blocks 18 and 19 are in assembled position.

The end block 19 is provided with an elongated opening 38 which passes transversely through the end block. The width of this opening is just sufficient to permit the shank of the bolt 29 to pass therethrough.

Preferably, the end blocks are constructed of steel, as are the rail braces ll, and the tie and base plates 10 and [3.

It should now be apparent that when the end blocks it and i9 are disposed intheposition shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, in particular, with the hole in the stationary block 18 in'alignment with the bolt hole 39 in the web of thejguardrail, that the bolt 28 may be passed through each of the blocks [8 and I9 and then through the hole 39 in the web 33 of the guard rail lfi and then through a filler member 40 (Fig. 3). The-gassembly is completed by a washer 4| and by'the nut 42. Before tightening the nut 42 the end block [9, because of the elongated hole 38 therein, may be moved longitudinally with respect to the stationary end block I3. Such longitudinal movement of the end block l9 makes it possible to adjust the space between the running rail II and the guard rail it. When the ,proper adjustment of this space has been effected, the nut 42 is tightened and the assembly is then ready for use.

With reference to-Fig. 1, there. is a similar arrangement at the right-end of the'assembly and this is also comprised of two end blocks l8 and I9 similar to the end blocks which have been described in detail.

After the end blocks at each end of theassembly have been adjusted and tightened in the manner which has been mentioned, each pair of end blocks may be additionally locked in adjusted position by passing asteelcotter pin-or the like through the appropriate hole of the series of holes.

26 and 36 in the tongues 35 and 25, respectively, of the end blocks.

To prevent the guard rail IS from-moving longitudinally with respect to the running rail l i, it is desirable to provide small steel stop blocks 43, as shown in Fig. -1. These stopblocks 43. which extend upwardly abovethebase of the guard rail may be welded to theupper surfaces of the two end base plates 13, as-shown.

While the rail braces I! may take various forms, they are preferably, as indicated of the forms illustrated in my prior patents Nos. 2,419,701; 2, i25,137; and 2,426,138. 'Whilerefervence may be had to those patents for a more detailed description, it should perhaps bementioned here that they include, broadly speaking, a rectangular block 44, whichwmay be' in this case welded to the-upper surface-of the base plate l3, the'blocktfi, onits surface whichfaces the. guard rail, being provided with a longitudinal groove which is" adapted to receive. a tongue545 which extends laterally from the outer surface of a wedge member 48,'and a'brace member 41. The surface of the wedge member facing the guard rail is tapered with respect to the outer surface of the wedge member and is also, in vertlcal section, semi-circular in shape. The'brace memberffifl has a surface engaging the guard rail 'IG under'the head thereof-and on the upper surface of the base. It also-has a-surface which is complementary in shapeto the tapered semicircular surface of the wedge member'46. The brace member 41 may be additionally secured to the base plate -I'3 by means of a bolt 48 which passes vertically upwards through the base member and .then through the'brace member-itself and which bolt is capped with a suitable nut as shown.

Itshould now be apparent that such arail brace I] can be employed effectively to adjust the guard rail in the direction of therunning rail l l andthat it also will. be effective to prevent the guardrail from tilting outwardly or rising vertically.

In the arrangement which has been described, and-referring again now to Fig. 1, it will be seen that the guard rail It may be adjusted with respect to the running rail H by a plurality of adjustable elements, these adjustable elements being the pairs of end blocks [8 and I9'at each end of .the assembly, and the three rail brace members H which are, as described, secured with respect'to the three base plates I3 illustrated in this figure.

It. is an important feature of the invention that the whole assembly can be placed into effective operation without in any way damaging the running rail or without the necessity of altering vor placing holes in any part of the running, rail ll. Moreover, in accordance with the invention it should now be clear that the guard railis not bolted or otherwise anchored to the runningrail H in any manner, and yet, in accordance with the arrangement illustrated track alignment .is effectivelymaintained and the wheel flanges of railroad cars are prevented from striking frogjpoints. The assembly thus maintains thestandard width flangeway between the two rails-and italso thus prevents high speed trains fromlurching when passing over switch turnouts.

"The rail braces IT, as already mentioned, prevent the. guard rail it from tilting outwardv or from rising upwardly. The tapered. end blocks l8 and [9 being fastened to the guard rail, are adjustable with the adjustable rail braces to pro- -:vi'de'any desired flangeway width. The end ,"hlocks with their tongue and groove arrangements, also prevent vertical movement of the guard rail and assist the rail braces I! in keeping the guardrail from dangerous movement.

' It should now be apparent that modifications of the invention as described, can be effected without departing from the scope of theinvention. Forexample, instead of-havin the elongated-slottii in the end block [9, as illustrated in Fig. 4 of the-drawings, this elongated slot '38'can'be provided in the end block l8, whilethe I and block I9, in this-event, is provided only with a hole for the passage of the bolt 29-. With such an arrangement, theblock [9 will remain stationarywhile the adjustment of the space between the guard rail [6 and the running rail II will be effected by moving the block [8 longitudinally with respect to the block l9.

Other changes in the shape and arrangement i 6 of the partsmayalso be made without departing from the inventionwhich is not, therefore, to be limited by this "disclosure except as indicatedin the following claims. I claim: l

1. A guard rail-assembly comprising, a running rail and a-guard rail parallel toand spaced from the'running rail, a plurality of supporting plates extending transversely and immediately beneath both ofsaid rails, apair of adjustable spacer blocksdisposed between the running rail and the guardrail-adjacent one end of theguard rail, asimilar pair of spacer iblOCkS adjacent the other end of the guard rail, each of the spacer block pairs having'facing surfaces lying in aplane at an angle to the rails to provide for relative-adjustment of the blocks of each pair to varythe spacing between the running rail and the guard rail, means for bolting the blocks of each pairto only the guard rail in anyof their respective adjusted positions, and a plurality of adjustable rail'braces mounted on. said supporting plates engaging the guard rail on the side farthestfrom the running rail and means for adjusting said rail braces to conform to spacing movement of said guard rail. 1

2. Aguard rail assembly comprisinga running rail and a guard rail parallel to and spaced from the running rail, a plurality of supporting plates extending transversely-and immediately beneath both or said rails, the supporting-plates at each end of the'guard rail being of a width suflicient to span two spaced railroad ties, a pair of adjustable spacer blocks disposed between the running railand the guard rail adj acent one end of the guard rail, a similar pair of spacer blocks adjacent the other end of the guard -rail,-eaoh of the spacer block pairs having facing surfaces lying substantially in a plane at an angle to the railsto provide for relative adjustment of the blocks of each pair to varythe spacing between the running rail and the guardrail, meansfor bolting the blocks of each pair to only the guard rail in any of their respective adjusted positions, a plurality of adjustable rail braces mounted-on saidsupporting plates and engaging the guard rail on the side farthest from the running rail and means for adjusting said rail braces to conform to spacing movement of said guard rail.

3. A guard rail assembly comprising, a running railand a guard rail parallel to-andspaced from the running rail, a plurality of supporting' plates extending transversely and immediately beneath both of said rails, the supporting plates-ateac'hend of the-guard rail being of a-width sufficient to-span two spaced railroad ties, a pair of adjustable spacer blocks disposed between the running rail and-the guard rail-adjacent one end of the guard rail, asimilar pair of spacer blocks adjacent the other end of the guard rail, each of the spacer block pairs having facing surfaces lying in a plane at an angleto the'rails to provide for relative adjustment of the blocks of each pair tovary'the spacing between the running rail and the-guardrail, means for bolting theblocks of each pair toonly the guard rail inany of their respective adjusted positions, and a plurality of adjustable rail braces mounted on said supporting plates and engaging the guard rail on the side farthest from the running rail, there being one of said adjustable rail braces mounted on each of the supporting plates which are at the ends of the guard rail, means for adjusting said rail brace to conform to spacing movement of said guard rail, and stop blocks integral with said end supporting plates and positioned to about the opposite ends of said guard rail to prevent longitudinal movement thereof.

4. A guard rail assembly comprising, a running rail and a guard rail parallel to and spaced from the running rail, a plurality of supporting plates extending transversely and immediately beneath both of said rails, a pair of adjustable spacer blocks disposed between the running rail and the guard rail adjacent one end of the guard rail, a similar pair of spacer blocks adjacent the other end of the guard rail, each of the spacer block pairs having facing surfaces lying in a plane at an angle to the rails to provide for relative adjustment of the blocks of each pair to vary the spacing between the running rail and the guard rail, the facing surfaces of each of said blocks each having a laterally extending tongue of substantially rectangular section at one end thereof and an elongated groove of substantially rectangular sectionat the other end, the tongue of each of the blocks of a pair engaging the groove of the other block of the pair and extending beyond the end of the mating block, means cooperating with said tongue and said mating block ,for selectively blocking relative movement of said blocks in at least one direction, means for bolting the blocks of each pair only to the guard rail in any of their respective adjusted positions, a

plurality of adjustable rail braces mounted on i said supporting plates and engaging the guard rail on the side farthest from the running rail and means for adjusting said rail braces to conform to spacing movements of said guard rail.

5. In a rail guard assembly, a metal supporting plate disposed immediately beneath the running rail and the guard rail, said supporting plate having a width suflicient to span two spaced railroad ties, a pair of adjustable spacer blocks disposed between the uard rail and the running rail, the spacer blocks having facing surfaces lying in a plane at an angle to the rails to provide for relative adjustment of the blocks to vary the spacing between the running rail and the guard rail, means for ibolting said blocks to the guard rail only in any one of their adjusted positions, the facing surfaces of said blocks each having a laterally extending tongue of substantially rectangular section at one end thereof and an elongated groove of substantially rectangular section at the other end, the tongue of each block engaging the groove of the other block and extending beyond the end of the mating block, means cooperating with said tongue and said mating block for selectively blocking relative movement of said blocks in at least one direction, means for bolting both blocks to only the guard rail in any one of their adjusted positions, an adjustable rail brace mounted on said supporting plate and engaging the guard rail on the side farthest from the running rail and means for adjusting said rail brace to conform to the spacing movement of said guard rail.

6. In a rail guard assembly, a metal supporting plate disposed immediately beneath the running rail and the guard rail, said supporting plate having a width sufilcient to span two spaced railroad ties, a pair of adjustable spacer blocks disposed between the guard rail and the running rail, the spacer blocks having facing surfaces 1ying in a plane at an angle to the rails to provide for relative adjustment of the blocks to vary the spacing between the running rail and the guard rail, means for bolting said blocks to the guard rail only in any one of their adjusted positions, the facing surfaces of said blocks each having a laterally extending tongue of substantially rectangular section at one end thereof and an elongated groove of substantially rectangular section at the other end, the tongue of each block being adapted to be engaged in the groove of the other block, means for bolting both blocks to only the guard rail in any one of their adjusted positions, and an adjustable rail brace mounted on said supporting plate and engaging the guard rail on the side farthest from the running rail, said adjustable rail brace comprising a brace member for engaging the guard rail, a stationary block member, and a wedge member disposed between said brace member and said block member.

7. In a rail guard assembly, a metal supporting plate disposed immediately beneath the running rail and the guard rail, said supporting plate having a width suificient to span two spaced railroad ties, a pair of adjustable spacer blocks disposed between the guard rail and the running rail, the spacer blocks havin facing surfaces lying in a plane at an angle to the rails to provide for relative adjustment of the blocks to vary the spacing between the running rail and the guard rail, the facing surfaces of said blocks each having a laterally extending tongue of substantially rectangular section at one end thereof and an elongated groove of substantially rectangular section at the other end, the tongue of each block being adapted to be engaged in the groove of the other block, means for bolting both blocks to only the guard rail in any one of their adjusted positions, and an adjustable rail brace mounted on said supporting plate and engaging the guard rail on the side farthest from the running rail, said adjustable rail lbrace comprising a brace member for engaging the guard rail, a stationary block member, and a wedge member disposed between said brace member and said block member, the contacting surfaces of said block member and said wedge member having complementary tongues and grooves, and the contacting surfaces of said wedge member and said brace member being semi-cylindrical in vertical transverse section.

JAMES H. ASSELIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 843,897 Korns Feb. 12, 1907 891,390 Wrightson June 23, 1908 1,230,533 Stiles June 19, 1917 1,376,525 Gibbs, Jr. May 3, 1921 1,743,662 Enstrom Jan. 14, 1930 1,820,603 Dickson Aug. 25, 1931 2,426,137 Asselin Aug. 19, 1947 

